LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL TO TAKE ON RANDOLPH-MACON IN SECOND ROUND OF NCAAs

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team travels to Randolph-Macon College, Saturday evening, to take on the Yellow Jackets in the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Warriors enter the game with a season record of 20-7 after defeating Gettysburg College 78-59 in opening round action. Lycoming qualified for the tournament by winning the Middle Atlantic Freedom Conference championship over King’s College, 72-64, on Saturday, February 23.

Randolph-Macon enters the contest with a mark of 23-5. They received a first-round bye after qualifying for the playoffs with an at-large bid. The Yellow Jackets fell to Hampden-Sydney, 55-48, in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship on February 18.

Lycoming presents a balanced attack with four starters averaging double figures in scoring. Freedom Conference MVP Tommy Wesner (Jr./Dillsburg, PA; Northern) leads the team with a 17.0 points-per-game average. He is the team’s most dangerous outside threat with 89 three-pointers on the year, and he shoots 81% from the free-throw line. Chris Napier (Sr./Port Jervis, NY; Minisink Valley) averages 15.7 markers per contest and led the Warriors with 22 points versus Gettysburg. The two-time 1^st-team Freedom Conference all-star pulls down 6.7 rebounds per game, has hit 52 triples on the year, and shoots 75% from the charity stripe. Sophomore center Matt Stackhouse (Hughesville, PA; Hughesville) is Lycoming’s inside presence. Against the Bullets he recorded a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. For the season, Stackhouse leads the squad with 8.7 rebounds per outing while contributing 13.6 points per game. Jason Black (Sr./Duncannon, PA; Susquenita) is another outside threat with 47 three-pointers on the year and a 10.7 points-per-game average.

Senior Nick Tagliaferri (Linden, PA; Jersey Shore) rounds out the starting five and Curtis Mays (Fr./Philadelphia, PA; University City), LJ Huggler (So./St. Mary’s, PA; St. Mary’s), Matt Spears (Fr./Shamokin, PA; Shamokin), and Rob Johnson (Sr./Bradley Beach, NJ; Manasquan) give the Warriors quality depth.

The Yellow Jackets are led by 6’6” forwards Jared Mills and Kurt Bergman. Mills leads the team with 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 80% from the free-throw line. Bergman chips in 13.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing while shooting 47% from three-point range. Ryan Stein, a 6’2” guard, checks in with 10.9 points per game on the strength of his team-high 56 triples.

Tim Smith and Jamal Brunt will also see plenty of action in Randolph-Macon’s backcourt. The duo combines for more than 13 points per contest and has knocked down 49 three-pointers.

The winner of Saturday’s game advances to the round of 16 at a site to be determined. Games will be played on Friday, March 8.

Notes: … Lycoming is now 3-2 all-time in the NCAA playoffs … the Warriors on 0-2 all-time versus Randolph-Macon … Lycoming is 19-4 when they score more than 70 points and just 1-3 when they don’t … The Warriors are 7-6 on the road while the Yellow Jackets are 10-1 at home … Jason Black needs 11 points to become the 22^nd member of Lycoming’s 1,000-point club … Matt Stackhouse needs just one block to a set a new school record for blocked shots in a season … the Warriors are 11-2 when leading at halftime, 9-4 when trailing, and 0-1 when tied.

Results of the game will be promptly added to the Warrior Sports Hotline at 570-321-4188. Updates on the web, including a game story and statistics may not be available until Sunday, March 3, in the evening.